Hailey Whitters to Headline Ellicottville’s Summer Music Festival July 5th
Hailey Whitters to Headline Ellicottville’s Summer Music Festival July 5th
The ACM Award-winning country artist brings her Corn Queen Tour to the slopes of Western New York for a special night of music and celebration.
Country singer-songwriter Hailey Whitters is bringing her “Corn Queen Tour” to Ellicottville as the headliner of the Summer Music Festival on July 5th. Her 5th album, Corn Queen, dropped June 6th and she is thrilled to get out there and share it with her fans.
Born in Shueyville, Iowa, Whitters got the country music bug singing to country music on her dad’s tractor in the corn fields that surrounded her. The final push happened on a high school field trip to the Grand Ole Opry when Little Jimmy Dickens encouraged her to “keep saying her dream out loud.” The day after her graduation, she moved to Nashville to give all she had to realize the country music dream.
Her debut album, Black Sheep was released in 2015 and she hasn’t looked back. In 2022 Whitters released her album, Raised, which she wrote part of when she returned to her childhood home and sat looking out her bedroom window. That album went on to become Rolling Stone’s #1 Country Album of the Year. In 2023 the singer received further validation that she made the right choice pursuing music when she won the Academy of Country Music’s award for New Female Artist of the Year.
Known also for her songwriting skills, capturing everyday life, she’s written songs for Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Lori McKenna and Little Big Town’s big hit from 2017 “Happy People”.
Whitters has toured with Maren Morris, Little Big Town, and was one of the opening acts for Luke Combs’ 2024 “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Older Tour”, which made a stop at Highmark Stadium in April last year, cementing her “Buffalo connection” that so many artists have.
As much as she loves touring, she does come off the road during corn planting and harvesting seasons to return home and help dad in the corn fields.
I was lucky enough to catch up with Whitters recently and we talked about her career, her musical idols, “the dream,” her projects with some heavy hitters in the music world, and why she can’t choose a favorite between singing and songwriting. “I’m looking forward to returning to the Western New York area on July 5th for the Ellicottville Summer Music Festival, and to perform slopeside will be an amazing backdrop,” said Whitters. “See you soon Ellicottville!”
For tickets to Hailey Whitters’ performance at Ellicottville’s Summer Music Festival, go to elicottvilleny.com or call the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce at 800-349-9099. Kids ages 12 and under are free! To learn more about the artist, visit haileywhitters.com.
A CONVERSATION WITH HAILEY
HULICK: Your career took off in 2015 with the release of your debut album, “Black Sheep”. Starting out, did you see yourself where you are 10 years later?
WHITTERS: Yeah, I hoped I would be where I am now... playing and making music for a living and making records that I love.
HULICK: Where were you the first time you heard your record on the radio?
WHITTERS: The first time I ever heard it I think I was on a radio tour somewhere. The first time I ever heard it in my hometown I was out farming with my dad in the fields and it came on in the tractor. That was a surreal feeling.
HULICK: Has the dream changed since then?
WHITTERS: Not really. For me it’s always been about building it to a point that I’m able to make records that I love and play music how I wanna play it, without being constrained by my industry or financial limitations.
HULICK: Who are your musical idols?
WHITTERS: Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson... I grew up on the Chicks - they were a big part of shaping my music.
HULICK: In 2023 you won the ACM New Female Artist of the Year award. What did it feel like getting that validation?
WHITTERS: It felt pretty amazing! I’d been in town 15 years at that point and I felt pretty forgotten about, or like my window or “shot” had passed, so to be recognized by the country music community after all those years of hard work felt really rewarding.
HULICK: You were nominated for a Grammy Songwriter award for your song, “A Beautiful Noise”, which was a collaboration with Brandi Carlile, Alicia Keys and Brandy Clark. That’s quite a list of heavy hitters in the music industry. How was that experience working with those ladies?
WHITTERS: It was incredible! A lot of it was over Zoom because it was in the middle of the pandemic, so it was strange to be meeting them all for the first time and piecing this song together virtually. The actual first time we got to all officially meet in person was at the Grammys, which was totally nuts.
HULICK: Having done duets with Trisha Yearwood, Little Big Town and Lori McKenna, is there anyone you would consider your dream to do a duet with?
WHITTERS: I would love to collaborate with Dolly Parton or Vince Gill.
HULICK: You have written for and with Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Little Big Town and more. Do you prefer singing or writing... if you had to choose one or the other?
WHITTERS: Man, I get grouchy without either. I live for the writing part of it - I need that outlet like I need air to breathe. I don’t recognize myself without it. But I also feed off performing for the crowd and feeling that live energy around a song. It’s a high like no other.
HULICK: I love the quote you made in relation to your album, Raised, where you said, “My experience growing up in the middle of the country (Iowa) is very relatable to a lot of people. We’ve all lived in a similar way, the only thing that’s different is the scenery.” That pretty much sums up the connection music has around the world. That album was named Rolling Stone’s #1 country album of the year. How exciting!
WHITTERS: It’s very exciting, and I agree with you on music’s connection around the world.
HULICK: What’s next for you? Are you working on any projects?
WHITTERS: I just dropped my new record, Corn Queen! I also just launched the Corn Queen tour, which we’re gonna be doing this fall... so my head is in full album and tour mode. I can’t wait to get out there on the tour and sing these songs for the fans.
HULICK: Do you have a message to your fans coming out to see you July 5th at Ellicottville’s Summer Music Fest?
WHITTERS: We’re so excited to come to Ellicottville!! I love how country New York is, once you get outta the big cities. It makes me feel right at home, and the folks always treat us good, so we can’t wait to get up there and sing some country music for ya! It’s gonna be a good night!